(6) An areal variance granted under the provisions
of this subsection may be modified, terminated, or suspended by the
commission after notice and opportunity for hearing is provided to
each person shown on commission records to operate an oil or gas lease
in the area in which the proposed modification, termination, or suspension
would apply. If a hearing on a proposal to modify, terminate, or suspend
an areal variance is held, any applications filed subsequent to the
date notice of hearing is given must include the area-of-review information
required under paragraph (1) of this subsection pending issuance of
a final order.
(f) Casing. Injection wells shall be cased and the
casing cemented in compliance with §3.13 of this title (relating
to Casing, Cementing, Drilling, and Completion Requirements) in such
a manner that the injected fluids will not endanger oil, gas, or geothermal
resources and will not endanger freshwater formations not productive
of oil, gas, or geothermal resources.
(g) Special equipment.
(1) Tubing and packer. Wells drilled or converted for
injection shall be equipped with tubing set on a mechanical packer.
Packers shall be set no higher than 200 feet below the known top of
cement behind the long string casing but in no case higher than 150
feet below the base of usable quality water. For purposes of this
section, the term "tubing" refers to a string of pipe through which
injection may occur and which is neither wholly nor partially cemented
in place. A string of pipe that is wholly or partially cemented in
place is considered casing for purposes of this section.
(2) Pressure valve. The wellhead shall be equipped
with a pressure observation valve on the tubing and for each annulus
of the well.
(3) Exceptions. The commission or its delegate may
grant an exception to any provision of this paragraph upon proof of
good cause. If the commission or its delegate denies an exception,
the operator shall have a right to a hearing upon request. After hearing,
the examiner shall recommend a final action by the commission.
(h) Well record. Within 30 days after the completion
or conversion of an injection well, the operator shall file in duplicate
in the district office a complete record of the well on the appropriate
form which shows the current completion.
(i) Monitoring and reporting.
(1) The operator shall monitor the injection pressure
and injection rate of each injection well on at least a monthly basis,
or on a more frequent basis for a disposal well permitted under this
section as required by the commission under conditions described in
subsection (b)(1)(D) of this section.
(2) The results of the monitoring shall be reported
annually, or on a more frequent basis for a disposal well permitted
under this section as required by the commission under conditions
described in subsection (b)(1)(D) of this section, to the commission
on the prescribed form.
(3) All monitoring records shall be retained by the
operator for at least five years.
(4) The operator shall report to the appropriate District
Office within 24 hours any significant pressure changes or other monitoring
data indicating the presence of leaks in the well.
(j) Testing.
(1) Purpose. The mechanical integrity of an injection
well shall be evaluated by conducting pressure tests to determine
whether the well tubing, packer, or casing have sufficient mechanical
integrity to meet the performance standards of this rule, or by alternative
testing methods under paragraph (5) of this subsection.
(2) Applicability. Mechanical integrity of each injection
well shall be demonstrated in accordance with provisions of paragraphs
(4) and (5) of this subsection prior to initial use. In addition,
mechanical integrity shall be tested periodically thereafter as described
in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(3) Frequency.
(A) Each injection well completed with surface casing
set and cemented through the entire interval of protected usable-quality
water shall be tested for mechanical integrity at least once every
five years.
(B) In addition to testing required under subparagraph
(A), each injection well shall be tested for mechanical integrity
after every workover of the well.
(C) An injection well that is completed without surface
casing set and cemented through the entire interval of protected usable-quality
ground water shall be tested at the frequency prescribed in the injection
permit.
(D) The commission or its delegate may prescribe a
schedule and mail notification to operators to allow for orderly and
timely compliance with the requirements in subparagraph (A) and subparagraph
(B) of this paragraph. Such testing schedule shall not apply to an
injection well for which an injection well permit has been issued
but the well has not been drilled or converted to injection.
(4) Pressure tests.
(A) Test pressure.
(i) The test pressure for wells equipped to inject
through tubing and packer shall equal the maximum authorized injection
pressure or 500 psig, whichever is less, but shall be at least 200
psig.
(ii) The test pressure for wells that are permitted
for injection through casing shall equal the maximum permitted injection
pressure or 200 psig, whichever is greater.
(B) Pressure stabilization. The test pressure shall
stabilize within 10% of the test pressure required in subparagraph
(A) of this paragraph prior to commencement of the test.
(C) Pressure differential. A pressure differential
of at least 200 psig shall be maintained between the test pressure
on the tubing-casing annulus and the tubing pressure.
(D) Test duration. A pressure test shall be conducted
for a duration of 30 minutes when the test medium is liquid or for
60 minutes when the test medium is air or gas.
(E) Pressure recorder. Except for tests witnessed by
a commission representative or wells permitted for injection through
casing, a pressure recorder shall be used to monitor and record the
tubing-casing annulus pressure during the test. The recorder clock
shall not exceed 24 hours. The recorder scale shall be set so that
the test pressure is 30 to 70% of full scale, unless otherwise authorized
by the commission or its delegate.
(F) Test fluid.
(i) The tubing-casing annulus fluid used in a pressure
test shall be liquid for wells that inject liquid unless the commission
or its delegate authorizes use of a different test fluid for good
cause.
(ii) The tubing-casing annulus fluid used in a pressure
test shall contain no additives that may affect the sensitivity or
otherwise reduce the effectiveness of the test.
(G) Pressure test results. The commission or its delegate
will consider, in evaluating the results of a test, the level of pollution
risk that loss of well integrity would cause. Factors that may be
taken into account in assessing pollution risk include injection pressure,
frequency of testing and monitoring, and whether there is sufficient
surface casing to cover all zones containing usable-quality water.
A pressure test may be rejected by the commission or its delegate
after consideration of the following factors:
(i) the degree of pressure change during the test,
if any;
(ii) the level of risk to usable-quality water if mechanical
integrity of the well is lost; and
(iii) whether circumstances surrounding the administration
of the test make the test inconclusive.
(5) Alternative testing methods.
(A) As an alternative to the testing required in paragraph
(2) of this subsection, the tubing-casing annulus pressure may be
monitored and included on the annual monitoring report required by
subsection (i) of this section, with the authorization of the commission
or its delegate and provided that there is no indication of problems
with the well. Wells that are approved for tubing-casing annulus monitoring
under this paragraph shall be tested in the manner provided under
paragraph (3) of this subsection at least once every ten years after
January 1, 1990.
(B) The commission or its delegate grant an exception
for viable alternative tests or surveys or may require alternative
tests or surveys as a permit condition.
(6) The operator shall notify the appropriate district
office at least 48 hours prior to the testing. Testing shall not commence
before the end of the 48-hour period unless authorized by the district
office.
(7) A complete record of all tests shall be filed in
duplicate in the district office within 30 days after the testing.
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